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admits not of degrees, yet the assurance of it, whereby a man has peace of conscience, is more or less according to the measure of his clear sight of Christ's love, and evidence of his faith. Hence it is that the dear children of God have interruptions and intermissions in their peace; have sometimes much peace, sometimes little or no peace; according as they have intermissions in their assurance of God's favour.

Thus it was with David and Asaph; sometimes his heart was quiet, and his spirit was glad, in assurance that his soul should rest in hope, Psa. xvi. 9; at other times, his soul was cast down and disquieted in him, Psa. xlii. 11, thinking that he was cast out of God's sight, Psa. xxxi. 22, fearing that God would show no more favour, Psa. lxxvii. 7. Yea, he was so perplexed, that he did almost faint, and his eyes failed with waiting for God, Psa. lxix. 3. For since the best assurance of believers is exercised with combating against doubting, their truest and best peace must needs be assaulted with disquiet. And as it is with a ship at anchor, so is the most stable peace of a Christian in this life, who has his hope as an anchor of his soul, sure and steadfast, Heb. vi. 19; who, though he cannot make utter shipwreck, yet he may be grievously tossed and affrighted with the waves and billows of manifold temptations and fears. Likewise, though peace of sanctification be true, yet it must needs be more or less, according as any man grows or decreases in holiness, and as God shall please to restrain his spiritual enemies, or give power to subdue them, more or less.

Now the peace of God, both in him to man, and from him manifested and wrought in man, does pass all understanding, and serves to keep the heart and mind of him that walks with God, and rests on him through Christ.

This peace it is which you must seek for, and embrace in believing, and if you would have true comfort and tranquillity in your mind, labour especially to get and keep the peace of a good conscience,